Industrial process proteomics: alfalfa protein patterns during wet fractionation processing.

A proteome reference map of major soluble proteins from Medicago sativa (alfalfa) leaves and stems has been established for the first time. Among 195 spots analyzed by mass spectrometry and N-terminal Edman sequencing, 117 spots were unambiguously identified, representing 87 different proteins. Of these 87 proteins, 13 proteins were directly identified from the partial genome of Medicago sativa, 30 from expressed sequenced tags (ESTs) of the model legume Medicago truncatula and 44 from closely relative species by a cross-species protein identification method.

Evaluation of lipid peroxidation as a toxicity bioassay for plants exposed to copper.

Agricultural soils may contain toxic levels of copper (Cu) due to sewage sludge spreading or industrial pollution but chemical analyses may not be representative of Cu bioavailability, defined as the soil Cu fraction that plants can actually absorb (i.e. Cu fraction which is not strongly adsorbed to soil components).

Synergies between plant research conducted for terrestrial and for space purposes.

During the past 10 years, the main part of CELSS studies has concerned the exploration of limits of plant productivity. Very high yields were obtained in continuous and high lighting, without reaching any limit. Concepts of mineral nutrition were renewed.

Effects of modified atmosphere on crop productivity and mineral content.

Wheat, potato, pea and tomato crops were cultivated from seeding to harvest in a controlled and confined growth chamber at elevated CO2 concentration (3700 microL L-1) to examine the effects on biomass production and edible part yields. Different responses to high CO2 were recorded, ranging from a decline in productivity for wheat, to slight stimulation for potatoes, moderate increase for tomatoes, and very large enhancement for pea. Mineral content in wheat and pea seeds was not greatly modified by the elevated CO2.

Light Stress and Oxidative Cell Damage in Photoautotrophic Cell Suspension of Euphorbia characias L.

A photoautotrophic cell-suspension culture of Euphorbia characias L. grown at 70 [mu]mol photons m-2 s-1 was very sensitive to light stress: the gross photosynthesis measured by using a mass spectrometric 16O2/18O2 isotope technique showed a fast decrease at a rather low light intensity of 100 [mu]mol photons m-2 s-1, far below the photosynthetic saturation level. The contribution of activated oxygen species on photosystem II photoinhibition was examined for a given light intensity.